Adjustable cleaning brush

ABSTRACT

One embodiment of an adjustable cleaning brush may include a handle and a head carried by an end portion of the handle. The head may include a base having a first surface, a second surface opposite to the first surface, and a neck pivotally interconnecting the head and the handle. The neck may be carried by the end portion of handle. The head may further include a plurality of bristles carried by the first surface of the base and a sponge member carried by the second surface of the base. The head may be movable to a plurality of angular positions with respect to the handle to permit the plurality of bristles and the sponge member to be adjusted for cleaning a surface.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/113,885 filed on Nov. 12, 2008, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure generally relates to cleaning brushes, and more particularly, to an adjustable cleaning brush which may be angularly adjusted for cleaning a surface.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Bath brushes may be used for cleaning body parts that are difficult to reach and clean by hand. For example, the individual may use a bath brush for cleaning his or her back. Typically, the brush may include a handle having an end portion and a plurality of bristles carried by the end portion. The bristles may be held in a fixed position with respect to the handle and therefore may not permit the individual to thoroughly clean his or her back. In addition, the individual may be an elderly or handicapped person having back problems and may therefore experience pain or discomfort while bending or twisting his body while bathing. Accordingly, the individual may require the assistance of another person for thoroughly cleaning his back.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

One embodiment of an adjustable cleaning brush may include a handle having a first end portion and a second end portion opposite to the first end portion. The adjustable cleaning brush may also have a head carried by the first end portion. The head may include a base having a first surface, a second surface opposite to the first surface, and a neck pivotally interconnecting the head and the handle. The head may also include a plurality of bristles carried by the first surface of the base. The head may further include a sponge member carried by the second surface of the base. The head may be movable to a plurality of angular positions with respect to the handle to permit the plurality of bristles and the sponge member to be adjusted for cleaning a surface.

Another embodiment of an adjustable cleaning brush may include a handle having a first portion and a second portion slidably carried by the first portion to permit adjusting the length of the handle. The adjustable cleaning brush may also have a head that may be carried by the second portion of the handle. The head may include a base having a first surface, a second surface opposite to the first surface, and a neck pivotally interconnecting the head and the second portion of the handle. The head may also include a plurality of bristles carried by the first surface of the base. The head may further include a sponge member carried by the second surface of the base. The head may be movable to a plurality of angular positions with respect to the handle to permit the plurality of bristles and the sponge member to be adjusted for cleaning a surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The advantages and features of the present disclosure will become better understood with reference to the following detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of an adjustable cleaning brush;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are perspective views of the adjustable cleaning brush of FIG. 1 attaining different angular positions;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another embodiment of an adjustable cleaning brush;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of an adjustable cleaning brush;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of still another embodiment of an adjustable cleaning brush;

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of a locking mechanism of the adjustable cleaning brush of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of locking mechanism of the FIG. 7 in a unlocked position;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of locking mechanism of the FIG. 7 in a locked position; and

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of still another embodiment of an adjustable cleaning brush.

Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the description of several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure may provide an adjustable cleaning brush. The adjustable cleaning brush may enable in thoroughly cleaning or scrubbing an individual's entire body. More specifically, the adjustable cleaning brush may be adjusted angularly and lengthwise for reaching and cleaning the individual's body parts which may not be reached and cleaned by the individual's hand. Further, the adjustable cleaning brush may limit twisting and bending by an individual while cleaning his or her back.

Referring to FIG. 1, one embodiment of an adjustable cleaning brush 10 (“brush”) may include a handle 100. The handle 100 may be an elongated cylindrical structure that may be made of a light weight material, such as aluminum or plastic. However, the handle 100 may instead have other shapes, such as an elongated polygonal structure or an elongated oval structure. Of course, the handle may be made of other suitable materials.

The handle 100 may include a first end portion 102 and a second end portion 104 opposite to the first end portion 102. The handle 100 may further include a pair of grip members 106, 108 that may be carried by a respective one of the first and second end portions 102, 104 of the handle 100. The grip members 106,108 may permit an individual to firmly hold the handle 100. The grip members 106, 108 may be compressible foam to cushion a user's hand while holding the brush. Of course, the grip members 106, 108 may instead be a rigid textured surface or have various other shapes made of any suitable material.

The brush 10 may further include a head 200 that may be carried by the first end portion 102 of the handle 100. The head 200 may include a base 202 that may have a rectangular pan-shaped structure. Of course, the base 202 may have other structures, such as an oval pan-shaped structure or a polygonal pan-shaped structure. The base 202 may include a first surface 204, a second surface 206 opposite to the first surface 204, and a neck 208 that may pivotally interconnect the head 200 and the handle 100. The neck 208 in one form may be made of one or more malleable wires 210 (shown with hidden lines). For example, the wires 210 may be copper wires having a one quarter inch diameter. Of course, the wires 210 may be made of other suitable materials having greater or less than one quarter inch diameters. The neck 208 may also have a sleeve 212 that may surround the wires 210. Further, the sleeve 212 may be made of waterproof material, such as plastic or rubber. Of course, the neck 208 may instead include a ball-and-socket joint or other pivoting fasteners, and be made of other flexible materials, such as soft rubber.

The neck 208 may permit adjustment of the head 200 to a plurality of angular positions with respect to the handle 100, and hold the head in any one of those positions. Furthermore, at least a portion 214 of the neck 208 may be threadably carried by the first end portion 102 of the handle 100. The threadable coupling of the portion 214 and the first end portion 102 may permit an individual to adjust the length of the brush 10. For example, an individual may hold the grip member 106 by one hand and thereafter may rotate the head 200 by another hand for threadbly moving the head 200 with respect to the handle 100 and thereby adjusting the length of the brush 10. Of course, the individual may rotate the head 200 to an extent which allows the head 200 to remain carried by the handle 100.

The head 200 may further include a plurality of bristles 216 carried by the first surface 204 of the base 202. The bristles 216 may be removably carried by the first surface 204. Accordingly, the bristles 216 may be stored in a dry location to limit or prevent growth of mildew and accumulation of soap scum on the bristles 216. The bristles 216 may be made of a soft plastic material which may remove dead skin from an individual's body and also clean the individual's face. Of course, the bristles 216 may be made of any suitable material and may be fixedly carried by any portion of the brush.

The head 200 may also include a sponge member 218 carried by the second surface 206 of the base 202. The sponge member 218 may be removably carried by the second surface 206. Accordingly, the sponge member 218 may be stored in a dry location to limit or prevent growth of mildew and deposits of soap scum from accumulating on the sponge member 218. Further, the sponge member 218 may be made of a soft plastic material which may permit cleaning somewhat fragile body parts of the individual. Of course, the sponge member 218 may instead be fixedly carried by any portion of the brush 10.

In use, the head 200 of the brush 10 may be angularly moved with respect to the handle 100. For example, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the head 200 may be moved 90 degrees toward the left or the right about the neck 208. Further, the head 200 may be moved 90 degrees backward or forward about the neck 208. Accordingly, the plurality of bristles 218 and the sponge member 216 of the brush 10 may be angularly adjusted for cleaning a surface.

Referring now to FIG. 4, another embodiment of an adjustable cleaning brush 20 (“brush”) having a handle 300 and a head 500 may be similar to the brush 10 of FIG. 1 having the handle 100 and the head 200, respectively. However, the brush 20 may further have a scrubbing member 400 that may include a rod 402 carried by an end portion 302 of the handle 300 opposite to the head 500. The scrubbing member 400 may be removably carried by the end portion 302 of the handle 300. Of course, the scrubbing member 400 may be integral to the end portion 302 of the handle 300.

The scrubbing member 400 may further include a plurality of scrubbing bristles 404 carried by the rod 402. The scrubbing bristles 404 in this form may be arranged in a looped configuration. Of course, the bristles 404 may be configured to have a non-looped structure, such as elongated cylindrical structure. The looped structure of the scrubbing bristles 404 may permit the brush 20 to be hung on a support structure, such as hook. The bristles 404 may be made of nylon or other suitable materials. Accordingly, the scrubbing member 400 may be used for scrubbing body parts of an individual to, for example, dead skin from an ankle or the bottom of a foot. Moreover, the scrubbing member 400 may be used for cleaning areas in between the toes of the individual.

Referring now to FIG. 5, another embodiment of an adjustable cleaning brush 30 (“brush”) having a head 3200 may be similar to the brush 10 of FIG. 1 having the head 200. However, the brush 30 may have a handle 3100 that may include a first portion 3110 and a second portion 3120 slidably carried by the first portion 3110. For example, the second portion 3120 may be telescopically received within the first portion 3110. Further, the slidable movement of the second portion 3120 with respect to the first portion 3110 may permit adjustment of the length of the handle 3100.

The brush 30 may further include a fastener or a locking mechanism 3130 which may be adapted to lock the second portion 3120 and the first portion 3110 in fixed positions with respect to each other. The locking mechanism 3130 may be carried by the handle 3100. For example, the locking mechanism 3130 may include a plurality of holes 3132 formed in the first portion 3110 of the handle 3100. Further, the locking mechanism 3130 may also include a spring-loaded protrusion 3134 which may be carried by the second portion 3120 of the handle 3100. The spring-loaded protrusion 3134 may be received by one of the holes 3132 thereby retaining the first and second portions 3110, 3120 in fixed positions with respect to each other. Further, by pressing the spring-loaded protrusion 3134, the second portion 3120 may again move with respect to the first portion 3110, such that the spring-loaded protrusion 3134 may be received within another hole 3132. Accordingly, the handle 3100 may be adjusted lengthwise and retained in its adjusted length.

Referring now to FIGS. 6-9, still another embodiment of an adjustable cleaning brush 40 (“brush”) having a head 4200 may be similar to the brush 10 of FIG. 1 having the head 200. The handle 4100 may include a first portion 4110 and a second portion 4120 that may be slidably carried by the first portion 4110 by, for example, telescopically interconnecting the first and second portions 4110, 4120. Further, the second portion 4120 may be moved with respect to the first portion 4110 to permit adjustment of the length of the handle 4100.

As best shown in FIGS. 7-9, the brush 40 may further include a locking mechanism 4130. The locking mechanism 4130 may be adapted to hold the first and second portions 4110, 4120 in fixed positions with respect to each other. The locking mechanism 4130 may be carried by the handle 4100 and have a configuration known in the art for use with telescopically fitted extension poles. One example of a locking mechanism may be found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,086,718, which is incorporated herein by reference. In particular, the locking mechanism 4130 may include a threaded portion 4112 formed on the first portion 4110 of the handle 4100. The locking mechanism 4130 may also include a sleeve member 4140 threadably associated with the threaded portion 4112. Specifically, the sleeve member 4140 may include a complementary threaded portion 4142 which may be threadably associated with the threaded portion 4112. The sleeve member 4140 may have an un-threaded portion 4144 extending from the complementary threaded portion 4142. The un-threaded portion 4144 in this form may include a tapered portion 4146 extending from the complementary threaded portion 4142.

The locking mechanism 4130 may further include a resilient member 4150 which in this form may be a ring carried by the second portion 4120 of the handle 4100. During assembly, the resilient member 4150 may carried by the tapered portion 4146 of the sleeve member 4140. Thereafter, the second portion 4120 may be inserted into the first portion 4110, and received through the resilient member 4150 for allowing the resilient member 4150 to surround at least a portion of the second portion. The resilient member 4150 the sleeve member 4140 may include a slot 4152 along a length thereof. Then, the threaded portion 4142 of the sleeve member 4140 may be coupled to the threaded portion 4112 formed on the handle 4100.

In use, the individual may move the handle to a desired a length by moving the first and second portions to desired positions with respect to each other.

Thereafter, the sleeve member 4140 may be rotated clockwise, such that the tapered portion 4146 and the first portion 4110 may press the resilient member 4150 radially inward against the second portion 4120 thereby gripping the second portion 4120. In addition, the sleeve member 4140 may be rotated counterclockwise, such that the tapered portion and the first portion may permit the resilient member to return to its original position radially outward thereby releasing the first and second positions from their fixed positions for re-adjusting the length of the handle.

Referring now to FIG. 10, still another embodiment of an adjustable cleaning brush 50 (“brush”) having a handle 5100 and a head 5200 may be similar to brush of FIG. 5 having the handle 3100 and the head 3200, respectively.

However, the brush 50 may further include a scrubbing member 5300 carried by the first portion of 5110 of the handle 5100. Further, the structural configuration and function of the scrubbing member 5300 may be similar to the scrubbing member 400 of the brush 20, which is explained in conjunction with FIG. 4. Additionally, the brush 40, explained in conjunction with FIGS. 6 to 9, may also include a scrubbing member (not shown).

Based on the foregoing description of the present disclosure, an adjustable cleaning brush, such as the brushes 10-50, may be angularly and lengthwise adjusted for reaching and cleaning the individual's body part which may not be reached and cleaned by the individual's hand. Further, the adjustable cleaning brush of the present disclosure may enable in thoroughly cleaning an entire body of an individual with minimum physical effort. Specifically, the brush may be a light weighted cleaning brush which may be easy to handle for cleaning the individual's body part. Moreover, the angular adjustment of the brush may enable in avoiding the individual from twisting and bending the body parts, particularly the individual's back, while taking shower for cleaning the body parts. Therefore, the brush of the present disclosure may be suitably used by individuals suffering from back problems, elderly people, and handicapped individual. Apart from cleaning the body parts the brush of the present disclosure may be used for cleaning other articles, such as tires of a vehicle. Particularly, a scrubbing member, such as the scrubbing member 400, of the brush may be used for cleaning the tires.

The exemplary embodiments described herein detail for illustrative purposes are subject to many variations in structure and design. It should be emphasized, however, that the present disclosure is not limited to an adjustable cleaning brush as shown and described. It is understood that various omissions and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient, but these are intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present disclosure. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

The terms, “first,” “second,” and the like, herein do not denote any order, elevation or importance, but rather are used to distinguish one element with another. Further, the terms, “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced item.

The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present disclosure have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present disclosure to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the present disclosure and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the present disclosure and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omission and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstance may suggest or render expedient, but such are intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present disclosure. 

1. An adjustable cleaning brush comprising: a handle having a first end portion and a second end portion opposite to the first end portion; and a head carried by the first end portion of the handle, the head comprising a base having a first surface, a second surface opposite to the first surface, and a neck pivotally interconnecting the head and the handle, a plurality of bristles carried by the first surface of the base, and a sponge member carried by the second surface of the base, wherein the head is movable to a plurality of angular positions with respect to the handle to permit the plurality of bristles and the sponge member to be adjusted for cleaning a surface.
 2. The adjustable cleaning brush of claim 1, wherein the neck comprises at least one malleable wire and a sleeve surrounding the wire.
 3. The adjustable cleaning brush of claim 2, wherein the neck comprises at least a portion threadably carried by the first end portion of the handle for allowing the head to be rotated to adjust a length of the adjustable cleaning brush.
 4. The adjustable cleaning brush of claim 1, wherein the handle comprises a pair of grip members carried by the first end portion and the second end portion of the handle.
 5. The adjustable cleaning brush of claim 1 further comprising a scrubbing member carried by the second end portion of the handle.
 6. An adjustable cleaning brush comprising: a handle having a first portion and a second portion slidably carried by the first portion to adjust a length of the handle; and a head carried by the second portion of the handle, the head comprising a base having a first surface, a second surface opposite to the first surface, and neck pivotally interconnecting the head and the second portion of the handle, a plurality of bristles carried by the first surface of the base, and a sponge member carried by the second surface of the base, wherein the head is movable to a plurality of angular positions with respect to the handle to permit the plurality of bristles and the sponge member to be adjusted for cleaning a surface.
 7. The adjustable cleaning brush of claim 6 further comprising a locking mechanism carried by the handle, the locking mechanism adapted to hold the first portion and second portion in fixed positions with respect to each other to permit the handle to be retain at an adjusted length.
 8. The adjustable cleaning brush of claim 7, wherein the locking mechanism comprises a plurality of holes carried by the first portion of the handle, and a spring-loaded protrusion carried by the second portion of the handle.
 9. The adjustable cleaning brush of claim 7, wherein the locking mechanism comprise: a threaded portion carried by the first portion of the handle; a sleeve member threadably associated to the threaded portion; and a resilient member carried by the second portion of the handle and received between the sleeve member and the threaded portion of the first portion.
 10. The adjustable cleaning brush of claim 9, wherein the resilient member is a ring having a slot.
 11. The adjustable cleaning brush of claim 6 further comprising a scrubbing member carried by the first portion of the handle. 